Sports Betting Preview — October 2, 2013

It’s the American League’s turn to determine their wild-card game winner while the NHL season starts to heat up in its second day of action.

Sports Betting Preview for October 2

Top Stories in Sports Today

Baseball: Pirates Moves to the NLDS after Beating Reds

Behind Francisco Liriano’s strong pitching performance and Russell Martin’s hot bat, Pittsburgh won its first postseason game in 21 years after ousting the Reds in the NL wild-card game, 6-2.

Hockey: Blackhawks Beat Capitals to Start Cup Defense

Defending champions Blackhawks scored three goals in the third period to outmuscle Alex Ovechkin and the rest of the Caps and win their first game of the season, 6-4.

Basketball: Thunder Russell Westbrook to Miss First 4-6 Weeks of NBA Season

Bad news for Oklahoma City Thunder basketball fans: The All-Star point guard went under the knife for the second time; he’s expected to miss at least a month of the NBA regular season.
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MLB

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Cleveland Indians (8:07 PM ET)

Pitching Match-up: Rays RH Alex Cobb (11-3, 2.76 ERA) vs. Indians RH Danny Salazar (2-3, 3.12 ERA)

The Rays leaned on the exceptional pitching performance of David Price to turn away the Rangers in its last game, 5-2, and earned the right to join Cleveland in the AL wild-card game. Alex Cobb gets the ball tonight for the Rays, who are 3-0 in the right-hander’s last three starts.

Odds: Tampa Bay Rays (-117) vs. Cleveland Indians (+107), O/U: 7

Terry Francona must have been thrilled to return to the postseason. The Indians will try to make his October return a long one with a win tonight against the visiting Tampa Bay squad. Cleveland finished the regular season on fire, winning all 10 of its last 10 games. It is also 6-0 in its last 6 home games.

NHL

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Philadelphia Flyers (7:30 PM ET)

The Maple Leafs ended their campaign last season with an absolute heartbreaker in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Showing that the team is already past it, Toronto beat fellow Original Six team Canadiens, 4-3, to win their season opener. In that game, James Reimer stopped 34 shots while Mason Raymond netted the game-winner for the Leafs. The Maple Leafs head to Philadelphia next where they and the Flyers have gone 3-0 OVER in their last 3 games. [sc:NHL240 ]

Odds: Toronto Maple Leafs (+105) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (-125), O/U: 5.5

Philadelphia was 0-3 through the first three games of last season and missed the playoffs after finishing 10th in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia is now hoping for a bounce back season, signing Vincent Lecavalier (Lightning) and Mark Streit (Islanders) in the offseason. The Flyers are 4-0 in their last 4 games.

For the most comprehensive list of NFL, NCAAF, MLB, and NHL game odds and betting lines, visit Top Bet Sportsbook.

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